User adjustable support assembly for a collapsible canopy

ABSTRACT

A collapsible shelter assembly having a cover, a plurality of legs, a truss system linking each pair of legs together and forming a truss perimeter, rod for supporting the cover and having a plurality of rod segments, brackets having a base adapted for attachment to an upper end of a leg and a coupler pivotally mounted to the base adapted for attaching to one of the rods, each bracket having a locking mechanism configured for locking the rotatable coupler relative to the base, and one or more hubs each configured for coupling to the distal ends of two or more rods.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of United States national phase under 35 USC §371 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/373,247, filed on Jan. 9, 2009, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 8,215,326, which claimed priority to PCT/US2007/073170, filed Jul. 10, 2007, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/819,713, filed on Jul. 10, 2006, the disclosures of each are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to collapsible structures and, more specifically, to an adjustable support assembly for mounting a canopy support rod.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

There are a number of temporary shelters that can be transported and rapidly set up for a variety of uses. In general, these structures include an underlining or supporting frame, which includes at least three, and often four-corner posts or legs. Commonly, the legs are in two parts arranged to telescope within one another so as to define a lower retracted position and an extended position for use. A supporting beam or brace structure is attached to each of the legs at an upper fixed position and at the lower position at a slider moveably mounted on the leg. The slider moves with and on the leg to an extended position for use. The beam structure conventionally is a “scissors” arrangement, which enables the legs and beam structure to be compressed into a low profile configuration for transporting or storage. A supporting frame is coupled to the legs to support a canopy.

Typically, these existing canopy support assemblies work well for their intended purpose, their structures are relatively expensive to manufacture and do not lend themselves easily to the adoption of a variety of canopy top configurations. Additionally, the coverage area of canopy is limited to the footprint defined by the legs.

SUMMARY

The inventors hereof have succeeded at designing an improved canopy support assembly.

According to one aspect, a collapsible shelter assembly including a plurality of legs, each of the legs having an upper end, a lower end and defining a substantially vertical axis when the shelter is erected. The assembly includes a truss system linking each pair of legs together and defining a truss system perimeter and includes pairs of link members connected to each of the legs, the link member pairs having a first end connected to one leg and a second end connected to another leg, and having a scissors link permitting folding of each link member. A plurality of rods are configured for supporting a cover with each rod having a proximal end and a distal end, and each rod having a plurality of rod segments coupled end to end with each two consecutive rod segments being coupled end to end by a connector. A plurality of brackets having a base adapted for attachment to the upper end one of the legs include a coupler rotatable mounted to the base and adapted for attaching to one of the rods. Each bracket is configured so that at least one of the base and the coupler is rotatable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis defined by the leg. Each bracket includes a locking mechanism configured for locking the rotatable coupler relative to the leg. A cover is supported by the rods to form a canopy when the shelter is erected with the rods attached to the bracket couplers and the bracket bases attached to the upper ends of the legs.

According to another aspect, a collapsible shelter assembly has a plurality of legs, each of the legs having an upper end and a lower end, and a truss system linking each pair of legs together and forming a perimeter. The shelter includes a plurality of rods with each rod having a proximal end and a distal end and each including a plurality of rod segments coupled end to end with each two consecutive rod segments being coupled end to end by a connector. A plurality of brackets each have a base adapted for attachment to the upper end one of the legs and a coupler pivotally mounted to the base adapted for attaching to one of the rods. Each bracket includes a locking mechanism configured for locking the coupler relative to the base. The shelter includes one or more hubs with, each configured for coupling to the distal ends of two or more rods. A cover is configured to be supported by the rods to form a canopy when the rods are attached to the bracket couplers and the bracket bases are attached to the upper ends of the legs.

Further aspects of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below. It should be understood that various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one another. It should also be understood that the detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an erected collapsible canopy shelter having an adjustable support assembly according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a collapsed canopy shelter having an adjustable support assembly according an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an erected canopy support structure with adjustable support assemblies according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of top a leg assembly and adjustable canopy support assembly according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side perspective views of an adjustable support assembly with a pivotal coupler and a locking assembly according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side perspective views of an adjustable support assembly with a pivotal coupler and a locking assembly according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an adjustable support assembly having a locking ball and socket according to yet another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a side perspective view of a multi-segment canopy support rod adaptable for use with the adjustable support assembly according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a side perspective view of a stop for use with an adjustable support assembly according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of an adjustable support assembly having a locking ball and socket according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an adjustable support assembly having a knurled locking feature according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of an adjustable support assembly having rotational locking adjustment for locking with a top of a round leg assembly according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are side perspective views of a canopy support structure having a dome shape according to two exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are side perspective views of a canopy support structure having an arch shape according to two exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are side perspective views of a canopy support structure having a pyramid shape according to two exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are side perspective views of a canopy support structure having a triangular shape according to two exemplary embodiments.

It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the disclosure's applications or uses.

In some embodiments, such as the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 include a collapsible shelter 10 having a support assembly 12 and a cover 14. The support assembly 12 has legs 16 and a truss system 18. While four legs 16 are depicted in FIG. 1, three or more legs 16 are possible and still considered within the scope of this disclosure. Each leg 16 has an upper end, a lower end, and an axis X as illustrated in FIG. 3. Each leg 16 can be solid or hollow and of any shape. In some embodiments, each leg 16 is hollow and defines a cavity at its upper end.

Supporting rods 20 for the cover 14 are coupled to the legs 16 for forming a canopy or roof to the collapsible shelter 10. Brackets 22 attach the rods 20 to the upper end of the legs 16.

The rods 20 extend between the tops of two legs 16 for supporting a cover 14 to form a roof of the shelter 10. These can form any shape of shelter 10 including a pyramid, a dome, a hut, and an arch, by way of examples. A proximate end of the rod 20 can attach or couple to a bracket 22 and a distal end can be coupled or attached to a second bracket 22 or can be attached to a hub 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bracket 22 and the hub 24 can be fixed or releasably coupled to the rod 20.

The hub 24 can have any shape for attaching distal ends of two or more rods 20, some of which are shown in FIG. 2 by way of example. The rods 20 can be a single body of rigid or flexible design, or can be assembled from two or more rod segments 26 with connectors 28 as shown in FIG. 2. In this manner, the rods 20 can be compactly stored when the shelter 10 is collapsed, but provide from a proper elongated length for erection of the shelter 10.

As shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7, 9, 10, and 11, each bracket 22 has a coupler 32 that attaches to a rod 20 and a base 34 that attaches to the upper end of one of the legs 16. The coupler 32 can include a receptacle 36, such as a bore, for receiving an end of the rod 20 or can include another means for attaching to the rod 20, such as a clamp or saddle, not shown. The receptacle 36 can be configured to only receive the end of the rod 20 or can be configured to allow a predefined length of the end of the rod 20 pass through and beyond the bracket 22. In such an embodiment, the extended rod 20 can provide a coverage area for the cover 14 that has an area greater than the footprint defined by the legs 16.

Additionally, the coupler 32 can be configured to engage one or more stops, such as a connector 28 or clamp 29, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B for securing the rod 20 within the receptacle 36. The base 34 couples to the upper end of the leg 16 such as by insertion into a cavity of the leg 16, or having a cavity for receiving the upper end of the leg 16, by way of examples.

The bracket 22 is configured for rotation of the attached rod 20 relative to the leg axis X. This can be provided by the rotation of the coupler 32 relative to the base 34 or rotation of the base 34 relative to the attached leg 16, some of which are shown in the exemplary figures.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the base 34 can be fixed relative to the leg axis X. The coupler 32 is rotatable relative to the base 34 about the axis X. In this example, the bracket 22 has a locking mechanism 37 that is configured to lock the rotatable coupler 32 in a fixed position relative to the base 34. As shown, the base 34 includes a plurality of locking holes 38 positioned radially about a portion of the base 34. The coupler 32 has at least one hole 40 for receiving a pin 42 that goes through the hole 40 and into one of the holes 38 of the base 34 for preventing the further rotation of the coupler 32. A locking pin 44 can be engaged with the pin 42 to secure the pin 42 if desired. The bracket 22 can also include a bearing 46 to aid in the rotation of the coupler 32 about the axis X. In this embodiment, the base 34 includes a cavity 48 for receiving the upper end of the leg 16.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment where the locking mechanism 37 includes a plurality of holes 40 positioned radially about the coupler 32 and one or more holes in the base 34. The pin 42 configured for insertion into one of the holes 38 of the base 34 and one of the holes 40 of the coupler 32.

FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate additional embodiments wherein the bracket 22 includes a ball 50 and socket 52 for providing the rotational coupling of the rod 20 to the leg 16. In these examples, the locking mechanism 37 includes a clamp 54 configured with the socket 52 for locking the position of the ball within the socket. In these embodiments, the coupler 32 is not only rotatable about the axis X defined by the leg 16, but can also be rotated vertically in a plane including the axis X. It should also be noted that, in an alternative embodiment as represented by FIG. 9, the ball 50 could be a feature of the top end of the leg 16 and the socket 52 could be a feature of the base 34. This could also include the alternative where the socket 52 is a feature of the leg 16 and the ball 50 is defined by the base 34.

Referring now to FIG. 10, another exemplary embodiment provides for only the rotation of the coupler 32 in a plane including the axis X. In this example, the coupler 32 attaches to the base 34 via a locking mechanism 37 that includes one or more and preferably a pair of mated knurled portions 55 and a fastener 56, which is illustrated as a bolt 58 and nut 60. Of course in other embodiments, the rotatable arrangement and locking mechanism 37 can be combined with an assembly having a rotation only about the axis X, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment where the top end of the leg 16 is round. In this embodiment, a plurality of holes 38 can be formed in the leg 16 or in the base 34, as shown, and the pin 42 inserted through the holes 38 for securing the angular position of the base 34 relative to the axis X defined by the leg 16.

The truss system 18 attaches to or links each pair of adjacent legs 16 together and defines a perimeter of the support assembly 12. The truss system 18 can be of any design and construction. In some embodiments, the truss system 18 includes pairs of link members 30 (shown as 30A and 30B in FIG. 3) connected to each of the legs 16. Each link member pair 30 has a first end connected to one leg 16 and a second end connected to another leg 16 and has a scissors link that provides for the folding of each link member 30.

In operation, a shelter 10 with a supporting structure 12 that includes one of the many embodiments of a bracket 22 as described by way of examples in this disclosure, can provide for increased erecting and collapsing a collapsible shelter 10. Additionally, in some embodiments a variety of different canopy designs can be provided by a common support structure 12 and therefore the support for a variety of different shaped canopy covers 14. The adjustable bracket 22 can be changed to provide for different canopy heights and shapes as illustrated by some examples in FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15. FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate one possible supporting structure 12 having a dome shape. FIG. 12A being a dome wherein the canopy footprint is about equal to the footprint defined by the legs. FIG. 12B illustrates the use of a bracket 22 that allows for a predetermined length of rod 20 to extend beyond the bracket 22 for providing a canopy footprint that is greater than the footprint defined by the legs.

Similar designs for the supporting structure 12 are illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B that provides arch shapes, FIGS. 14A and 14B that provides pyramid shapes, and FIGS. 15A and 15B that provides triangular or house roofline shapes. These are just a few of the exemplary embodiments that can be provided by a common leg 16 and truss system 18 assembly for a supporting structure 12, utilizing the flexible bracket 22 as described herein. The canopy supporting structure 12 as described herein can provide flexibility to the manufacturer, the retailer and the user of such a collapsible shelter 10.

When describing elements or features and/or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features beyond those specifically described.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments and implementations described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is further to be understood that the processes or steps described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative processes or steps may be employed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible shelter assembly comprising: a plurality of legs, each of the legs having an upper end, a lower end and defining a substantially vertical axis when the shelter is erected; a truss system linking each pair of legs together and defining a truss system perimeter, the truss system includes pairs of link members connected to each of the legs, the link member pairs having a first end connected to one leg and a second end connected to another leg, and having a scissors link permitting folding of each link member; a plurality of rods configured for supporting a cover, each rod having a proximal end and a distal end, and each rod having a plurality of rod segments coupled end to end with each two consecutive rod segments being coupled end to end by a connector; a plurality of brackets, each bracket having a base adapted for attachment to the upper end one of the legs and a coupler rotatable mounted to the base and adapted for attaching to one of the rods, each bracket being configured so that at least one of the base and the coupler is rotatable in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis defined by the leg, and each bracket includes a locking mechanism configured for locking the rotatable coupler relative to the leg; and a cover supported by the rods to form a canopy when the shelter is erected with the rods attached to the bracket couplers and the bracket bases attached to the upper ends of the legs.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism includes holes positioned radially about the base, at least one hole on the coupler, and a pin configured for insertion into one of the holes of the base and into the hole of the coupler.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism includes holes positioned radially about the coupler, at least one hole in the base, and a pin configured for insertion into one of the holes of the coupler and into the hole of the base.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a bearing assembly positioned between the rotatable coupler and the base for aiding the rotation of the coupler relative to the base.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a ball and socket configured for providing the rotation of the coupler relative to the base.
 6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the socket includes a clamp for locking the position of the ball within the socket.
 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler is fixedly attached to the base and wherein the base is rotatably mounting to the top end of the leg.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein at least on of the top end of the leg and the base includes fixture selected from the group consisting of a ball and a socket.
 9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler includes a receptacle for receiving a rod and passing a portion of the rod there through, further comprising a stop positionable along the rod for engaging with the coupler and defining a predefined distance from the end of the rod and for extending an end of the rod externally to the perimeter defined by the truss system and forming a canopy perimeter that is greater than a perimeter defined by the truss system.
 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupler and rod are adapted for attaching a rod at a predefined distance from the end of the rod and for extending an end of the rod externally to the perimeter defined by the truss system and forming a canopy perimeter that is greater than a perimeter defined by the truss system.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more hubs for coupling with the distal ends of two more rods together.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one hub is releasably coupled to the distal ends of the two or more rods.
 13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rods are configurable for forming two or more user selected differently shaped covered shelters selected from the group consisting of a pyramid, a dome, a hut, and an arch.
 14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each leg defines a cavity at the upper end and wherein the base of each bracket is configured for insertion into the cavity.
 15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rods are multi-sectional flexible rods.
 16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein locking mechanism includes a pair of mated knurled portions, a first of the mated knurled portions being fixedly attached to the coupler with the receptacle and a second of the mated knurled portions being attached to the base, and wherein the pair of mated knurled portions being selectively rotatable about the horizontal axis.
 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each mated knurled portion includes a knurled circular surface with each having a hole defining the horizontal axis, and wherein the locking mechanism include a fastener positioned within each hole selectively securing the first mated knurled portions together in a selectively fixed rotated position about the horizontal axis.
 18. A collapsible shelter assembly having a plurality of legs, each of the legs having an upper end and a lower end, and a truss system linking each pair of legs together and forming a perimeter, the shelter comprising: a plurality of rods, each rod having a proximal end and a distal end and each includes a plurality of rod segments coupled end to end with each two consecutive rod segments being coupled end to end by a connector; a plurality of brackets, each bracket having a base adapted for attachment to the upper end one of the legs and a coupler pivotally mounted to the base adapted for attaching to one of the rods, each bracket including a locking mechanism configured for locking the coupler relative to the base; one or more hubs, each configured for coupling to the distal ends of two or more rods; and a cover configured to be supported by the rods to form a canopy when the rods are attached to the bracket couplers and the bracket bases are attached to the upper ends of the legs.
 19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the bracket includes a bearing assembly positioned between the rotatable coupler and the base.
 20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the bracket includes a ball and socket configured for providing the pivoting of the coupler relative to the base.
 21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the coupler includes a receptacle for receiving a portion of the rod, passing the portion of the rod there through, and the brackets are adapted for attaching to the rods at a predefined distance from the end of the rods for extending an end of the rods externally to the perimeter defined by the truss system and forming a canopy perimeter greater than the truss system perimeter.
 22. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the rods are flexible multi-sectional fiberglass rods coupled together to form the rods for supporting the cover. 